Laughing Buddha statues

Laughing Buddhas are one of the popular Buddhist figure in the world. They are famous for the cheerful nature of the character in the statue. The Laughing Buddha is generally known in China as Budai or Putai, Bodai in Vietnamese and Hotei in Japanese. Elsewhere, the laughing Buddha statue is generally known by Happy Buddha, jolly Buddha or Chinese Buddha.

Laughing Buddha is a Chinese folk deity whose name means "Cloth sack". Often seen and believed to be an incarnation of Maitreya, the future Buddha, the Laughing Buddha statue is the taken as the medium for depicting Maitreya in the Southeast Asian culture. The large protruding stomach and jolly smile have also helped him to be known as more common designation "Laughing Buddha". In China, Laughing Buddha is known for his loving and friend nature.

The Laughing Buddha statue is traditionally portrayed as a fat, bald and robe wearing monk carrying a sack and prayer beads. He is also portrayed in different paintings as followed or surrounded by the cheerful children around him. Another item that is usually seen with the Laughing Buddha figure is a begging bowl to represent his Buddhist nature. His large protruding stomach and jolly smile have given him the common designation "Laughing Buddha”. In China, the Laughing Buddha is known as the Loving or Friendly One.

Laughing Buddha meaning

Based on an eccentric Chinese Ch'an monk from the 9th century, the laughing Buddha has become an inseparable and significant part of Buddhism. He was a native of Fenghua in China, and his Buddhist name was Qieci. He was always taken as a man of loving and cheerful character.

In Buddhism, the term Buddha means the one who is enlightened or awake. The Buddhists believe there have been several figures who would come to be remembered as Buddhas. In Asian folklore, the Laughing Buddha is known for his ever smiling, content and loving nature. One popular belief claims that rubbing the belly of the Laughing Buddha brings prosperity and good luck.

This must be a reason for the Laughing Buddha statues to be seen in temples, restaurants, homes, and restaurants as the belief of the statue bringing contentment and abundance simutaneously. The Laughing Buddhas are also carry a cloth or a linen sack (which never empties) filled with many precious items including rice plants (signifying wealth), sweets for children, food or even the suffering of the world. The Laughing Buddha is also taken as a patron to the weak, poor and children. Similarly, in some scenarios, the Laughing Buddha may be seen sitting on a card drawn by boys and wielding a fan called an oopgi (which is believed to be a "Wish fulfilling" fan - in the past this kind of fans were used by the rich and aristocrat to indicate to the bondsmen that their requests would be granted). These images and statues depict the Laughing Buddha as a wandering monk who travels around while taking the sadness and suffering from the people of this world.

Large lavastone Happy Buddha statue

Lavastone statues

94 cm high

119 cm wide and 65 cm deep

Middle 20th century

Hand carved from a single block of lavastone

Originating from Indonesia

Nr: 2952-1

Price: 3500 euro

See details

Laughing Buddha shop

We sell many original and antique Laughing Buddha statues in our shop. A few months every year, we travel to China and other Asian countries to search for nice, original and antique Laughing Buddha statues. We exclusively import these wonderful and charming statues to our gallery after purchasing them from authentic Buddhist art dealers and Buddhist monasteries in many Asian countries who want to part with their Laughing Buddha statues.

If you want a Laughing Buddha statue for your own then do visit out online gallery.